Integral fastener



s. QUISLING 3,462,805

INTEGRAL FASTENER Aug. 26, 1969 Filed Oct. 6, 1966 4 fl, 3 g

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M Wd/h {far/2r United States Patent 3,462,805 INTEGRAL FASTENER Sverre Quisling, 1240 Sherman Ave., Madison, Wis. 53703 Filed Oct. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 584,853 Int. Cl. A441) 19/00, 17/00 US. Cl. 24-204 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to improvements in the method and apparatus for fastening opposing members in an interlocking relationship.

It is a primary object of my invention to provide an improved integral fastener whose interlocking tabs act independently to secure opposing members so that the malfunction of one tab will not destroy the efficacy of a series of tabs.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and economical method and device for securing opposed members which reduces noise and eliminates the need for rivets, welds, nails, glue or other like fasteners.

Another object of my invention is to provide a. versatile fastener which may be used to join together a variety of objects such as rolls of building material, roofing material, siding or the like.

Another object is to provide an improved device which may be fabricated in a single, very simple and inexpensive process with no waste or additional materials needed.

Another object is to provide a fastener means which may be made from resilient, yieldable material that will not rub, mark, tear or scratch other surfaces.

Another object is to provide an improved fastener method which is quick and simple yet provides a strong and durable structure when secured together.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my invention showing a means which facilitates the interlocking of each sheetlike member;

FIGURE 2 is a section view of my integral fastener;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of a portion of one sheetlike member;

FIGURE 4 is a top view showing the tabs bent away from the sheetlike member;

FIGURE 5 is a section view showing the tabs perpendicular with the sheetlike members ready to extend through the opposed open-ings;

FIGURE 6 is a top view showing the tabs as adapted to extend from the side of their resulting openings furthest from the overlapping edge;

FIGURE 7 is a section view of the tabs as shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a section view showing each sheetlike member attached to another member, and

FIGURE 9 is a partial section view of my invention showing fingerlike projections extending through the openings preventing my invention from buckling.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts it will be seen that my integral fastener 10 consists of a pair of opposing sheetlike members 12 and 14 each having a row of tabs 16 which are adapted to bend or extend outward to form resulting openings 18. The tabs 16 in one sheetlike member 12 are then fit through the openings 18 in the other sheetlike member 14, and vice versa, thereby interlocking to secure the two opposing members together. A means 20 for fastening the two opposing members 12 and 14 may be added to facilitate the interlocking of the tabs 16, and is shown in FIGURE 1. In addition, fingerlike projections 22 may be placed or secured in the openings 18, as shown in FIGURE 9, to prevent the sheetlike members 12 and 14 from buckling.

The two sheetlike members 12 and 14 are shown in all the figures but are perhaps best seen in FIGURE 1. Each sheetlike member 12 and 14 preferably has at least one substantially straight edge 24. The substantially straight edge of one member is adapted to overlap the substantially straight edge of the other member so that the tabs 16 on each opposing member may interlock to form an interference fit.

Each sheetlike member 12 and 14 may have a flange 26, as shown in FIGURES 6, 7, and 9, or may be fiat or attached to another member forming a rim or edge 28, as shown in FIGURE 8.

The tabs 16 are formed by cutting or punching out substantially equal sized loops. The loops are shown in the figures as partial circles, however, they may be any shape such as elliptical, hexagonal, square or diamondshaped.

The tabs 16 are integral with their respective sheetlike members 12 and 14 and are adapted to bend or extend outward to form a row of openings 18. The tabs 16 are preferably placed in a row parallel to the substantially straight edge 24 of each sheetlike member 12 and 14. This edge 24 overlaps the opposed sheetlike member when in a secured position.

It is important that all the tabs 16 be substantially the same size and that one row of tabs corresponds with the other row of tabs on the opposed sheetlike member. In other words, the tabs 16 of one sheetlike member must align with the tabs of the other sheetlike member so that when the tabs are bent outward they align with the resulting openings 18 in the opposed member. The tabs 16 are then passed or extended through the corresponding openings in the opposed sheetlike member whereupon they interlock independently thereby fastening the sheetlike members 12 and 14 together. It is important to note that each tab 16 acts independently and that the malfunction of one tab will not destroy the efficacy or efiiciency of the other tabs.

When pressure is applied parallel with the plane of the sheetlike members 12 and 14 the tabs 16 remain interlocked in the opposed openings 18 forming an interference fit between the two members. The tabs 16 of one member may be removed from the opening 18 in the other member by applying pressure perpendicular to the plane of the two sheetlike members 12 and 14.

In addition, the tabs 16 may extend or bend out from either side of their resulting openings 18. As shown in FIGURES 1 through 5 each tab 16 is adapted to extend or bend outward from the side 20 of their resulting openings closest the substantially straight edge 24 of each sheetlike member. FIGURES 6 through 9 show each tab 16 as adapted to extend outward from the side 32 of their resulting openings furthest from the substantially straight edge 24.

The sheetlike members 12 and 14 may be made from a variety of inorganic, organic, synthetic or processed materials such as plastic, metal, rubber or fabric material. It is important, however, that the tabs 16 be both resilient and somewhat flexible. The tabs 16 may then be bent in a perpendicular direction to form openings 18 and later returned to the same plane as the sheetlike members 12 and 14.

When made of plastic the sheetlike members 12 and 14 may be fabricated during the process of plastic sheet extrusion by a slitting operation using revolving male and female punching dies. This is a single, very simple and inexpensive process which eliminates waste and requires no additional materials. In addition to speed and economy of fabrication my integral fastener may be made from materials that will not rub, tear, mark or scratch other surfaces.

A means for fastening the two sheetlike members 12 and 14 may be provided to facilitate engaging or disengaging of the tabs 16. One such means 20 is shown in FIGURE 1. This means 20 is not essential for fastening the two sheetlike members 12 and 14, but, as mentioned, merely facilitates the process. Such fastener means 20 in the form of a slider is the subject of my copending application for patent Ser. No. 587,225.

FIGURE 9 shows another modification of my invention wherein fingerlike projections 22 are inserted or passed through the openings 18 formed by the tabs 16. These fingerlike projections 22 which are extensions from an elongated support rest or seat substantially perpendicular to the sheetlike members 12 and 14, as shown in FIGURE 9. If a flexible material is used for the sheetlike members 12 and 14, then these fingerlike projections 22 will make the sheetlike members 12 and 14 relatively rigid or broadlike. This will make it advantageous to use my invention when joining rolls of building material such as roofing, sidings, or construction beams as described in my copending application, Ser. No. 549,542, filed May 12, 1966, now Patent No. 3,378,984. In addition, it is easy to see that by use of my integral fastener 10 it will not be necessary to use rivets, wedges, nails or glue when joining together two opposed members.

It is understood that my invent-ion is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms as may come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An integral fastener for securing opposing members in an interlocking relationship, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposing sheetlike members each having at least one substantially straight edge adapted to overlap each other,

(b) each said sheetlike member having a row of tabs substantially parallel to said substantially straight edge,

(e) each said tab being integral with its sheetlike member and being adapted to extend outward from each said sheetlike member thereby forming a row of openings in each said member,

(d) each said tab adapted to extend through the respective openings in the opposing sheetlike member whereupon each tab interlocks in an independent manner to form an interference fit, and

(e) said tabs extending in a, substantially perpendicular relationship from the side of their resulting openings furthest from said substantially straight edge.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that each sheetlike member has a flange substantially parallel to the row of openings formed by said tabs when in an open position.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that each sheetlike member is attached to another member forming an edge substantially parallel to the row of openings formed by said tabs when in an open position.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein each said sheetlike member is made from plastic and all said tabs are substantially the same size and shape.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by a means which facilitates the interlocking of each said tab thereby forming an interference fit.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by substantially rigid fingerlike projections extending from a support to fit into the openings formed by the interlocked tabs thereby preventing said sheetlike members from buckling.

7. An integral fastener for securing opposing members in an interlocking relationship, comprising:

(a) a pair of opposing sheetlike members each having at least one substantially straight edge adapted to overlap each other,

(b) each said sheetlike member having a row of tabs substantially parallel to said substantially straight edge,

(0) each said tab being integral with its sheetlike member and being adapted to extend outward from each said sheetlike member thereby forming a row of openings in each said member,

(d) each said tab adapted to extend through the respective openings in the opposing sheetlike member whereupon each tab interlocks in an independent manner to form an interference fit, and

(e) said tabs extending in a substantially perpendicular relationship from the side of their resulting openings closest to said substantially straight edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,000 6/ 1890 Clark. 1,613,102 1/ 1927 Harshberger 52-526 1,980,154 11/1934 Coe. 2,009,568 7/1935 Walker 138-166 X 2,841,850 7/ 1958 Zahorski.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

